Coughlan
An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic 'Ó Cochláin' meaning 'descendant of Cochlán'.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,091 Americans carry the last name Coughlan. That puts it at #16,100 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.61 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 163,919 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Coughlan surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 163,919
Census rank
#16,100
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,798 bearers of the surname Coughlan in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 16100th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Coughlan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Coughlan
The surname "COUGHLAN" originated in Ireland, deriving from the Irish Gaelic personal name "O Cochláin" which means "descendant of Cochlán." The name Cochlán is a diminutive of the Gaelic word "coch" meaning "red" or "ruddy."
The name first appeared in historic records in the early 12th century, with the Coughlan clan being among the notable families of County Cork. They were part of the Dalcassian race and descended from Oilioll Olum, the 3rd century King of Munster.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Aodh O Coughlan, who was Bishop of Ross in the year 1216. Another early record is that of Senchan O Coughlan, who was an Irish poet and historian in the 7th century.
In the 16th century, the Coughlans were among the leading families of the Carbery region in County Cork. They were Lords of the territory of Clanawley and held substantial lands around Rosscarbery and Clonakilty.
A notable figure in Irish history was Muiris Coughlan (1593-1635), a Catholic priest who was hanged for his religious beliefs during the Protestant Reformation. Another Coughlan of note was Robert Coughlan (1745-1828), an Irish-born merchant and land speculator who played a significant role in the early settlement of New Brunswick, Canada.
Other historically prominent individuals with the Coughlan surname include Richard Coughlan (1825-1899), an Irish-born bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York, and Michael Coughlan (1892-1976), an Irish hurler who played for the Cork senior team and won three All-Ireland medals.
The surname has also been recorded with various spelling variations over the centuries, including Coghlan, Coglan, Caughlane, Caughulin, and others, reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional dialects of Ireland.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Coughlan
Among Census respondents with the surname Coughlan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Coughlan bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Coughlan surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.0%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Coughlan surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,100 | #16,100 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,798 | 1,798 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.61 | 0.61 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Coughlan bearers went from 1,798 to 1,798 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #16,100 to #16,100.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Coughlan
FAQ
Coughlan surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Coughlan?
The surname Coughlan holds position #16,100 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,091 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.61 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Coughlan surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Coughlan, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.0%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (1.9%) and Hispanic (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.